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169
Local Arrangements.
1. Preschool Children.—Infants and toddlers found by the Clinic Medical
Officer to be suffering from ear defects are referred for treatment to
the school minor ailments clinic, to private medical attendants or to hospitals
according to circumstances. By co-operation with neighbouring
hospitals no difficulty has been experienced in making the necessary
arrangements for treatment, either as out-patients or in-patients.
2. School Children.—Children found at routine medical inspection to be
suffering from defects of ear, nose or throat are referred for treatment
as in the case of pre-school children. The Education Authority has
arrangements, approved by the Board of Education,
(a) For the treatment of minor ailments such as running ears, etc.
(b) For the operative treatment of defective tonsils and adenoids.
No ad hoc clinic exists for the electrical treatment (ionisation) of
special cases by an ear specialist; but—as in the case of pre-school
children—no difficulty has been experienced so far in arranging special
treatment for such cases at neighbouring hospitals.
3. Following-up of Fever Hospital Cases.—When discharged from the
isolation hospital, special following-up cards are completed in respect of
children who have suffered from any ear complications, and such
children are kept under observation by the Clinic Medical Officer or
the School Medical Officer.
Extent of Ear Defects.
During last year .26 per cent, of children examined in Leyton at routine
school medical inspection were found to be suffering from defective hearing;
the comparative figure for England and Wales being .39 per cent.
In addition, 77 school children were found at routine medical inspection
to be suffering from other diseases of the ear requiring treatment.
During 1932 the number of children actually treated in the school
minor ailments clinic for ear defects was 267.
At the end of the year there were 8 Leyton school children in certified
schools for the deaf, and 3 at certified schools for the partially deaf. The
percentage of Leyton school children in certified special schools is 0.05
per cent, as compared with 0.07 per cent, in the country generally.
Suggestions and Recommendations.
The official report of Dr. Eichholz states that:—
"It must be emphasised that all methods for testing hearing
power lead to the conclusion that more professional supervision and
treatment are necessary to secure prevention of deafness and the
proper handling of deaf persons, and that nothing short of the
adequate provision of expert otological advice is pertinent to that
end."
"It is hoped that the use of the audiometer will receive wide
encouragement from authorities in this country as a means of disclosing
ear defects which remain undetected by present methods."